Legal Authority Matrix
United Arab Emirates · Version 1.0 · Last updated 1 January 2026
The following matrix maps the major provisions of this Legal Framework to the applicable UAE legislation and regulatory authorities. References marked "Verify" indicate that the specific article number is indicative and must be confirmed against the current official text by qualified UAE legal counsel before reliance. This matrix does not constitute legal advice.
| Subject | Legislation | Reference | Authority | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Contracting | Federal Decree Law No. 14 of 2023 on Modern Technology Based Trade | Arts. 4, 6 | Ministry of Economy | High |
| Electronic Signatures | Federal Decree Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Digital Trust | Relevant arts. | UAE Digital Economy Authority | High |
| Platform Intermediary Status | Federal Decree Law No. 14 of 2023 on Modern Technology Based Trade | Arts. 12–15 (Verify) | Ministry of Economy | Medium |
| Personal Data Collection | Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL) | Arts. 4, 7 | UAE Personal Data Protection Office | High |
| Lawful Bases for Processing | Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL) | Art. 4 | UAE Personal Data Protection Office | High |
| Data Subject Rights | Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL) | Arts. 15–20 | UAE Personal Data Protection Office | High |
| International Data Transfers | Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL) | Arts. 10, 22 | UAE Personal Data Protection Office | High |
| DIFC Data Processing | DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020 | Relevant arts. | DIFC Commissioner of Data Protection | High |
| DIFC Courts Jurisdiction | Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 Concerning the DIFC Courts | Opt-in provisions (Verify) | DIFC Courts | High |
| Enforcement of Judgments | Federal Decree Law No. 42 of 2022 Civil Procedure Code | Relevant arts. | UAE Ministry of Justice | High |
| Limitation of Liability | UAE Civil Transactions Law No. 5 of 1985 (as amended) | Arts. 282–298 | UAE Judiciary | High |
| Force Majeure | UAE Civil Transactions Law No. 5 of 1985 (as amended) | Art. 273 | UAE Judiciary | High |
| Copyright Protection | Federal Decree Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights | Relevant arts. | Ministry of Economy (IP) | High |
| Trademark Protection | Federal Law No. 11 of 2021 on Industrial Property Rights | Relevant arts. | Ministry of Economy (IP) | High |
| Cybercrime / Misuse | Federal Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes (as amended) | Relevant arts. | UAE Cybercrime Unit | High |
| AML / KYC | Federal Decree Law No. 20 of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering | Relevant arts. | UAE Financial Intelligence Unit | High |
| AML Executive Regulation | Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2019 | Relevant arts. | UAE FIU / Supervisory Bodies | High |
| Hazardous / Waste Materials | UAE Federal Law No. 12 of 2018 on Integrated Waste Management | Relevant arts. (Verify) | Ministry of Climate Change & Environment | Medium |
| Environmental Compliance | UAE Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 on Environment Protection (as amended) | Relevant arts. | Ministry of Climate Change & Environment | Medium |
| Sanctions Compliance | UAE Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020 on Terrorism Lists | Relevant arts. (Verify) | UAE Executive Office for AML/CFT | Medium |
| Consumer Protection / Claims | UAE Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection | Relevant arts. | Ministry of Economy | Medium |
| User Capacity / Eligibility | UAE Civil Transactions Law No. 5 of 1985 (as amended) | Art. 85 | UAE Judiciary | High |
| Cookie Consent | Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL) | Consent provisions | UAE Personal Data Protection Office | Medium |
Confidence ratings: High: legislation is in force and the reference is reliable. Medium: legislation is in force but specific article mapping requires independent legal verification before publication.
This Legal Authority Matrix is provided for reference purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All citations must be verified by qualified UAE legal counsel against the current official text of each law prior to publication on a live commercial platform.
